Islands row hangs over Tokyo bid

The territorial row that has disrupted sporting fixtures between China and Japan could even impact on Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Olympics in the murky world where sport meets politics.

The Japanese government's purchase this month of three islands it administers and calls the Senkakus, but which are claimed as the Diaoyus by China and Taiwan, sparked violent mass demonstrations in mainland cities.

Japanese businesses were targeted, there were reports of physical assaults on Japanese nationals in several areas and sporting fixtures between the two countries were abandoned.

Competitors from Japan are staying away from table tennis, cycling, rugby sevens and ice hockey events hosted by China, while Chinese badminton players and archers have pulled out of Tokyo-based events, citing safety fears. But the implications of the spat could be more far-reaching.

There are fears in Japan that China may use its influence - and not inconsiderable financial muscle - in Asia and Africa to torpedo Tokyo's bid against Madrid and Istanbul when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) votes on the venue of the 2020 Summer Games in September next year.

A separate, but no less keenly felt row with South Korea over a different set of islands may not help matters.